My Antonia- Written by Willa Cather
Ashleys Project
Setting- Virginia, Nebraska, New York
Characters
Jim Burden- A hardworking kid willing to learn everything there is to life. He dedicates himself to his family and friends and becomes a very successful man later on in life. Antonia- A Bohemian girl who knew no English until she was eager to be taught by Jim. She loved to run around and explore the fields while being a child. Mr. and Mrs. Burden- They worked very hard on their farm and in their home. Mrs. Burden always had a job to do around the house and a dinner to cook. Mr. Burden always was working around the farm and taking care of everyone else. Otto Fuchs- A man that works hard for Mr. Burden and help out on the farm. Jake Marpole- A boy that worked for Jim's father and traveled to the Burden's farm with Jim when he went out west. Peter Krajiek- A man who sold the Shimerdas their farm and made them lose a lot of money. The Shimerdas- An immigrant family who knew nothing about America and got a lot of help from surrounding neighbors, including the Burdens. They adapted quickly and progressed until the suicide of Mr. Shimerda. Lena Lingard- Friends with both Jim and Antonia but became closer with Jim in Lincoln. She put together her own business which was a dressmaker's shop. Tiny Soderball- Immigrant who worked for Mrs. Gardener and then leaves towards the Gold Rush to open a hotel.
Summary- This story is about a man named Jim Burden who looks back at his childhood. He first lived in Virginia untill both of his parents died and he had no family. He was then sent to Nebraska to live with his grandparents. Jim first saw a family of immigrants from Bohemia on the train going west. He was instantly interested in their story and who they were. When he arrived at his grandparent's house he was very welcomed. He realized that the men worked in the field and that he would soon be doing the same. Jim soon became friends with the Bohemian neighbors and got close to a young girl named Antonia. Antonia's family was named the Shimerdas. They did not know much about America and had a very difficult time adapting. The Burdens tried to help them out as much as possible by sending food and other farm machinery. Jim and Antonia would always run along the fields together and Jim would teach her English. She soon got very familiar with the language and started to translate for her family. They soon met two Russian men who lived down the road named Peter and Pavel. These men were hard working as well, but did not interact with other people until the Shimerdas came along. Antonia and Jim loved to go visit the men but then one day Pavel became very sick and eventually died. This destroyed everyone, especially Peter. Peter ended up commiting suicide due to his great loss. Antonia soon became a housekeeper and Jim worked very hard with his school work. Many years later Jim and Antonia drifted apart. She got engaged to a man named Larry Donovan but days before the wedding he ran off and she was left pregnant. While attending college Jim got a tutor named Gatson Cleric, but Gatson died of pneumonia and left Jim behind. The rest of the story shows Jim and Antonia going on with their lives. No matter where they were they would always keep in contact and find a way to visit each other.
Why was this book on the list?
The book shows many obstacles in life and how to get through them. What meant the most to me in this book was his dedication to keep in touch with Antonia even though she may be married or he may be in a different state. He always remained in contact with her because his relationships meant so much to him. This book also shows that no matter where someone comes from they can work hard and get into good schools and better themselves. Jim was a homeless orphan who was adopted by his grandpartents and even succeeded in becoming a New York City lawyer. Books that have meaning and a lesson that helps you want to be a better person are worth being on this list.
Why would I recommend this book?
This book attracted me because it was written about a child who ranges from the age of ten to his adulthood. Many teens can relate to this story because they are going through some of the same things. It followed a good story plot and will keep people entertained.
About the author
Willa Cather was born on December 7, 1873 in a small village in Virginia (Gradesaver.com). Many of her characters in her stories are influenced on real people in her life. Cather first started editing the school magazine and publishing articles and play reviews in the local papers (Gradsaver.com). She then became a English teacher between the years of 1901 to 1906 (Gradesaver.com). In 1906 Cather moved to New York to become a managing editor for McClure's Magazine (Gradsaver.com). By 1923 she had won the Pulitzer Prize for her story "One of Ours" (Gradesaver.com). From then on she continued to write novels until her death in 1947 (Gradesaver.com).
Quotes from the book
"Antonia, the eldest daughter, is a striking-looking girl, with eyes that were "big and warm and full of light, like the sun shining on brown pools in the wood" (Cather 17). -Jim "My papa sad for the old country. He not look good. He never make music any more. At home he play violin all the time; for weddings and for dance. Here never. When I beg him for play, he shake his head no. Some days he take his violin out of his box and make with his fingers on the strings, like this, but never he make the music" (Cather 59). -Antonia
"I can work like mans now...I can work as much as Ambrosch. School is all right for little boys. I can help make this land one good farm" (Cather 80). -Antonia
"I get awful homesick for them, all the same" (Cather 111). -Lena
"Everybody's put into this world for something, and I know what I've got to do" (Cather 206). -Antonia
Ashleys Project
Setting- Virginia, Nebraska, New York
Characters
Jim Burden- A hardworking kid willing to learn everything there is to life. He dedicates himself to his family and friends and becomes a very successful man later on in life.
Antonia- A Bohemian girl who knew no English until she was eager to be taught by Jim. She loved to run around and explore the fields while being a child.
Mr. and Mrs. Burden- They worked very hard on their farm and in their home. Mrs. Burden always had a job to do around the house and a dinner to cook. Mr. Burden always was working around the farm and taking care of everyone else.
Otto Fuchs- A man that works hard for Mr. Burden and help out on the farm.
Jake Marpole- A boy that worked for Jim's father and traveled to the Burden's farm with Jim when he went out west.
Peter Krajiek- A man who sold the Shimerdas their farm and made them lose a lot of money.
The Shimerdas- An immigrant family who knew nothing about America and got a lot of help from surrounding neighbors, including the Burdens. They adapted quickly and progressed until the suicide of Mr. Shimerda.
Lena Lingard- Friends with both Jim and Antonia but became closer with Jim in Lincoln. She put together her own business which was a dressmaker's shop.
Tiny Soderball- Immigrant who worked for Mrs. Gardener and then leaves towards the Gold Rush to open a hotel.
Summary- This story is about a man named Jim Burden who looks back at his childhood. He first lived in Virginia untill both of his parents died and he had no family. He was then sent to Nebraska to live with his grandparents. Jim first saw a family of immigrants from Bohemia on the train going west. He was instantly interested in their story and who they were. When he arrived at his grandparent's house he was very welcomed. He realized that the men worked in the field and that he would soon be doing the same. Jim soon became friends with the Bohemian neighbors and got close to a young girl named Antonia. Antonia's family was named the Shimerdas. They did not know much about America and had a very difficult time adapting. The Burdens tried to help them out as much as possible by sending food and other farm machinery. Jim and Antonia would always run along the fields together and Jim would teach her English. She soon got very familiar with the language and started to translate for her family. They soon met two Russian men who lived down the road named Peter and Pavel. These men were hard working as well, but did not interact with other people until the Shimerdas came along. Antonia and Jim loved to go visit the men but then one day Pavel became very sick and eventually died. This destroyed everyone, especially Peter. Peter ended up commiting suicide due to his great loss. Antonia soon became a housekeeper and Jim worked very hard with his school work. Many years later Jim and Antonia drifted apart. She got engaged to a man named Larry Donovan but days before the wedding he ran off and she was left pregnant. While attending college Jim got a tutor named Gatson Cleric, but Gatson died of pneumonia and left Jim behind. The rest of the story shows Jim and Antonia going on with their lives. No matter where they were they would always keep in contact and find a way to visit each other.
Why was this book on the list?
The book shows many obstacles in life and how to get through them. What meant the most to me in this book was his dedication to keep in touch with Antonia even though she may be married or he may be in a different state. He always remained in contact with her because his relationships meant so much to him. This book also shows that no matter where someone comes from they can work hard and get into good schools and better themselves. Jim was a homeless orphan who was adopted by his grandpartents and even succeeded in becoming a New York City lawyer. Books that have meaning and a lesson that helps you want to be a better person are worth being on this list.
Why would I recommend this book?
This book attracted me because it was written about a child who ranges from the age of ten to his adulthood. Many teens can relate to this story because they are going through some of the same things. It followed a good story plot and will keep people entertained.
About the author
Willa Cather was born on December 7, 1873 in a small village in Virginia (Gradesaver.com). Many of her characters in her stories are influenced on real people in her life. Cather first started editing the school magazine and publishing articles and play reviews in the local papers (Gradsaver.com). She then became a English teacher between the years of 1901 to 1906 (Gradesaver.com). In 1906 Cather moved to New York to become a managing editor for McClure's Magazine (Gradsaver.com). By 1923 she had won the Pulitzer Prize for her story "One of Ours" (Gradesaver.com). From then on she continued to write novels until her death in 1947 (Gradesaver.com).
Quotes from the book
"Antonia, the eldest daughter, is a striking-looking girl, with eyes that were "big and warm and full of light, like the sun shining on brown pools in the wood" (Cather 17). -Jim
"My papa sad for the old country. He not look good. He never make music any more. At home he play violin all the time; for weddings and for dance. Here never. When I beg him for play, he shake his head no. Some days he take his violin out of his box and make with his fingers on the strings, like this, but never he make the music" (Cather 59). -Antonia
"I can work like mans now...I can work as much as Ambrosch. School is all right for little boys. I can help make this land one good farm" (Cather 80). -Antonia
"I get awful homesick for them, all the same" (Cather 111). -Lena
"Everybody's put into this world for something, and I know what I've got to do" (Cather 206). -Antonia
Work Cited
"Biography of Willa Cather". 27 Mar. 2008.[[http://www.gradesaver.com/classicnotes/authors/about_willa_cather.html**Images**
Images
>http://www.nebraskahistory.org/images/histpres/nebrasko/WT00-177b.jpg
http://www2.bc.edu/~wilsonc/sodhouse.jpg
http://images.google.com/imgres